Agenda item

Hospitality Working Party of the Policy and Resources Committee

To consider several applications relating to the provision of hospitality.

Minutes:

HOSPITALITY WORKING PARTY OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

 

(Wendy Mead, O.B.E., Chief Commoner)

23 January 2018

Applications for Hospitality

 

(A)  Afternoon reception following the Installation of the Bishop of London

It was announced in December 2017 that the Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, DBE had been appointed as the 133rd Bishop of London. It was the first time a woman would have been appointed to the position.

 

The City Corporation had a longstanding relationship with the Diocese of London. Previous holders of the position having been regular participants at many events in the City and, in both 1991 and 1996 following the installation of previous Bishops of London, the City Corporation hosted receptions for the newly appointed Bishop.

 

It was therefore proposed that the City Corporation host an afternoon reception at Guildhall following the installation service at St Paul’s Cathedral. This occasion would provide the City with an opportunity to welcome the new Bishop and to build on the City’s relationship with the Diocese of London. Guests would include senior representatives from the Church, Government, City institutions, faith organisations, Livery Companies and representatives from the Diocese of London.

 

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an afternoon reception, with arrangements made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

 

This would be a full Court event.

 

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an afternoon reception, with arrangements made under the auspices of the Hospitality Working Party; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

 

(b)    (B) Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race Exhibition in Guildhall Yard

The Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race is the oldest rowing race in the world. Every year, since 1715, up to six apprentice watermen compete in the race on the River Thames, beginning at London Bridge and ending at Cadogan Pier, Chelsea.

 

To coincide with the Totally Thames festival, the Thames Festival Trust had developed a project focusing on the Doggett’s Race and its significance to the life of those who work on the River Thames. A public outdoor exhibition detailing the history of the Doggett’s Race would form part of this programme and be on display in the Guildhall Yard from 6 - 23 September 2018. The exhibition was to feature contemporary photographs, archive material, and excerpts from oral history interviews that had been specially produced for this project.

 

It was proposed that the City Corporation hosts an early evening reception to mark the exhibition, which would promote the history of the City and its long-standing traditions. Guests attending the reception would include exhibition organisers, race participants and contributors, young training apprentices, relevant Livery Companies, City of London cultural and heritage providers, artists, historians and volunteers connected to the exhibition.

 

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for an early evening reception, with arrangements made under the auspices of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

 

This would be a full Court event.

 

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for an early evening reception, with arrangements made under the auspices of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

 

(c)     (C) Reception for the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust - Vision for the Commonwealth Campaign

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust is a charity established in 2012 to celebrate The Queen’s contribution to the Commonwealth. It has two specific goals: to empower a new generation of young leaders and the prevention of avoidable blindness. To this end, the Trust had joined forces with five leading eye health organisations to tackle the issue of avoidable blindness. The campaign would seek to bring the issue to the attention of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting taking place in London in April.

 

It was proposed that the City Corporation host an early evening reception on Tower Bridge for the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to raise awareness of the campaign. The reception would support the City Corporation and City Bridge Trust’s aim to promote London as a global centre for effective philanthropy.

 

Those attending the reception would include the Vice-Patron, High Commissioners, Trustees, sponsors and partners of the campaign, representatives from City businesses with a strong link to the philanthropic sector, politicians and Members with relevant interests.

 

It was therefore recommended that hospitality be granted for early evening private views, with arrangements made under the auspices of The City Bridge Trust Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

 

This would be a Committee event.

 

Resolved – That hospitality be granted for early evening private views, with arrangements made under the auspices of The City Bridge Trust Committee; the costs to be met from City’s Cash and within the approved parameters.

 

(d)   (D) Report of Urgent Action Taken: Reception for launch of Crossrail Art Foundation exhibition

In December 2013, the City Corporation agreed to support the Crossrail Art Strategy for the funding of artworks in seven Elizabeth Line stations in central London, and a registered charity was established by the City Corporation and Crossrail Limited for the purposes of delivering this programme. The programme was moving into its final stages with artworks being installed in stations in time for the opening of the line in December 2018.

 

An exhibition, “Art Capital: Art for the Elizabeth Line”, had been organised to celebrate the building of Crossrail and the associated art programme. It was to run from 13 March until 6 May 2018 and was expected to attract over 30,000 visitors. The City Corporation, as a major sponsor and founding partner of the charity, was to be recognised at the exhibition, demonstrating its support for the Crossrail project and its role as a major supporter of the arts in London.

 

It was proposed that the City Corporation provide funding for refreshments at a Private View to launch the exhibition. With the event scheduled to take place close to the next meeting of the Court and the requirement to make the necessary arrangements, approval was sought and obtained under urgency procedures.

 

Resolved – That the report be received.

 

(e)    (E) Report of Urgent Action Taken: Commonwealth Business Forum Banquet and Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Forum

At various meetings of the Hospitality Working Party and the Policy and Resources Committee from September to December 2017, Members received reports concerning the City Corporation’s potential involvement with the Commonwealth Business Forum. As part of this, Members approved in principle the commitment of City Corporation resources to the holding of the Commonwealth Business Forum at Guildhall and Mansion House and to the hosting of a banquet at Guildhall.

 

With arrangements having been confirmed, formal approval was consequently sought for the funding for the banquet, which would provide an opportunity to enhance the City Corporation’s engagement with the Commonwealth and provide a high-level occasion for dialogue between business and cultural leaders in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. Additionally, as part of the wider programme of engagement with the Commonwealth, the City Corporation was also to provide the venue for the final day of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Forum and host an early evening reception at its conclusion.

 

Approval was sought and obtained under urgency procedures to allow sufficient time for invitations to be issued and the requisite arrangements to be made.

 

Resolved – That the report be received.

 

(f)      (F) Report of Urgent Action Taken:Government Advisory Board on Social Investment – Early Evening Reception

During the 2017/18 Christmas break, the City Corporation was approached with a request to host an early evening reception in mid-January 2018, to recognise the work of the Government’s Advisory Board on Social Investment. The reception was intended to provide an opportunity to learn about the report recommendations and how these would be taken forward, alongside the Government’s strategy to enhance the UK’s position as a centre for asset management and progress social impact investing in the UK.

 

Due to the late receipt of the request and the short window in which to make requisite arrangements, approval was sought and obtained under urgency procedures.

 

Resolved – That the report be received.

Supporting documents: